Turkey: Five accused of spying for Syria

Suspects charged with passing information on officers who fled and trying to abduct army lieutenant

A Syrian child lies in a safety seat while his family takes refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey. (file photo credit: AP/Muhammed Muheisen)

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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s state-run news agency says five people, including two Syrians, are on trial on charges of military espionage and of attempting to kidnap a Syrian army defector.

The Anadolu Agency said Friday Turkish prosecutors were demanding a maximum 54 years in prison for each of the defendants accused of passing information to Syria on officers who have fled to Turkey, and of trying to abduct a Syrian army lieutenant at knifepoint. The suspects have not been identified.

Five other Turks, including a former intelligence official, are awaiting trial in a separate case for allegedly abducting former Syrian Lt.-Col. Hussein Harmoush and handing him over to Syrian authorities.

Turkey is serving as a base for officers and soldiers who have joined the Syrian opposition.